One can say the true beginnings of ABC channel started in 1953 when the government passed the federal television act. Between the years of 1953 to 1956 planning commenced. Land and transmitters for the studios were bought and people were brought from overseas to help with the training. The beginning! The very first broadcast happened in 1956 on the evening of November the 5th at Gore studios. Hosted by Michael Charlton Charlton it featured an animated logo. Sydney was the first to receive the broadcast. Melbourne soon followed two weeks later just in time for the Melbourne Olympics.
Other stations began transmitting in the next few years with Brisbane transmitter opening in 1959, Hobart, Adelaide and Perth in 1960 and Darwin in 1971. ABC TV became the only station to broadcast all the regional areas in Australia. At first when ABC first started transmitting only 1% of the population n Sydney and 5% of the population in Melbourne owned a TV. Australians were quick to take up the technology and within the next decade 95% of both cities owned televisions. Originally, the channel broadcasted a few hours day with test periods running in between. It wasn’t till 1993 that ABC started broadcasting 24/7. Sport was the main focus for the station at first with anything from motor cars to figure skating being shown. With this new technology ABC could beam film and information from outside their studios into the home of their audience. Women's topics were especially popular as gracious hostesses informed housewives of the latest décor. Children were entertained with shows like Mr. Squiggle. The news on ABC was short and rarely had moving pictures. More in-depth news shows weren't created until the 1960s when Four corners was put to air. The first daily current affairs program was This Day Tonight. As technology was advanced so was the ability to broadcast faster with more shows. At the beginning in order for a show to be seen in a different city the film had to be copied and physically taken there. The only other options were to set up relay sites and these were only used for events such as the cricket and they weren't permanent. I the 1960s cables were laid down and enabled shows and information to be relayed to different cities without trouble. ABC started expanding opening up more channels 2001- First digital kids channel ABC KIDS 2005- ABC's second channel was set up. Surprise surprise it was called ABC 2. 2008-ABC Television was renamed ABC 2009-ABC 3 was launched 2010-ABC news 24 2011-ABC4 Kids was launched
Interesting Info
The ABC reaches 98.19% of the Australian population via analogue television and 95.82% via digital television. In 2005-06 the ABC was watched on a weekly basis by more than 12 million people.
It also has an International Television service which broadcasts to 39 countries and is retransmitted by 155 pay-tv operators. In addition, 190 countries buy ABC TV programs for broadcast.
One can say the true beginnings of ABC channel started in 1953 when the government passed the federal television act. Between the years of 1953 to 1956 planning commenced. Land and transmitters for the studios were bought and people were brought from overseas to help with the training.
The beginning!
The very first broadcast happened in 1956 on the evening of November the 5th at Gore studios. Hosted by Michael Charlton Charlton it featured an animated logo. Sydney was the first to receive the broadcast. Melbourne soon followed two weeks later just in time for the Melbourne Olympics.
The first broadcast and interactive timeline
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/50years/
Other stations began transmitting in the next few years with Brisbane transmitter opening in 1959, Hobart, Adelaide and Perth in 1960 and Darwin in 1971. ABC TV became the only station to broadcast all the regional areas in Australia. At first when ABC first started transmitting only 1% of the population n Sydney and 5% of the population in Melbourne owned a TV. Australians were quick to take up the technology and within the next decade 95% of both cities owned televisions.
Originally, the channel broadcasted a few hours day with test periods running in between. It wasn’t till 1993 that ABC started broadcasting 24/7. Sport was the main focus for the station at first with anything from motor cars to figure skating being shown. With this new technology ABC could beam film and information from outside their studios into the home of their audience. Women's topics were especially popular as gracious hostesses informed housewives of the latest décor. Children were entertained with shows like Mr. Squiggle. The news on ABC was short and rarely had moving pictures. More in-depth news shows weren't created until the 1960s when Four corners was put to air. The first daily current affairs program was This Day Tonight.
As technology was advanced so was the ability to broadcast faster with more shows. At the beginning in order for a show to be seen in a different city the film had to be copied and physically taken there. The only other options were to set up relay sites and these were only used for events such as the cricket and they weren't permanent. I the 1960s cables were laid down and enabled shows and information to be relayed to different cities without trouble.
ABC started expanding opening up more channels
2001- First digital kids channel ABC KIDS
2005- ABC's second channel was set up. Surprise surprise it was called ABC 2.
2008-ABC Television was renamed ABC
2009-ABC 3 was launched
2010-ABC news 24
2011-ABC4 Kids was launched
Interesting Info
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/50years/didyouknow/firsts.htm
bibliography
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/50years/didyouknow/facts.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ABC_Television#History